Latest from Jesson Duller

• Apr 13, 2022

  Are banks in a prime position for more lending?

  

  Rising interest rates and an influx of stashed cash built up over the pandemic era could have banks more willing to push loans to people and businesses. Consumer prices hit a 40-year high in March, and hints at what April could bring might come in the form of the coming wholesale price numbers. We look into how fledgling shopping centers have pivoted to become medical hubs during the pandemic.

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• Apr 13, 2022

  Spain is trying to deal with soaring energy costs and raging inflation

  

  From the BBC World Service: Significant price rises across Europe and the impact of the war in Ukraine are likely to be on the agenda when European Central Bank policymakers meet this week. Plus, Britain’s Prime Minister and Chief Finance Minister reject calls to resign after being fined for breaking COVID-19 lockdown rules to attend a party. And, Ethiopia lifts restrictions so the Boeing 737 Max can return to its skies.

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• Apr 12, 2022

  Inflation reaches heights not seen since 1981

  

  Consumer prices are up 8.5% compared to a year ago. That’s a four-decade high, according to the government’s latest reading of inflation: the consumer price index. It’s the first report fully accounting for higher gas prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. David Kelly offers up some perspective on market activity on the heels of these inflation numbers. The BBC reports on a small town in Germany that’s become the home of some geopolitically important equipment: the Nord Stream gas pipelines.

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• Apr 12, 2022

  The future still appears murky for small business owners

  

  Small business owners’ optimism about the economy fell in March, according to a new survey from the National Federation of Independent Business. It found that small businesses are continuing to grapple with staffing shortages, supply chain disruptions and higher costs. Politicians have asked Big Oil to use its profits to help stem the tide of rising gas prices, but experts say it’s not that simple. 

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• Apr 12, 2022

  What’s it like in the German town home to the Nord Stream pipelines?

  

  From the BBC World Service: The U.S. orders non-emergency staff to leave its consulate in Shanghai as COVID-19 infection rates rise and lockdown measures continue. Plus, Sri Lanka is suffering its worst economic crisis in more than seven decades. Now, the central bank has prioritized essential imports over foreign debt payments. And, we take you to the northeastern German town of Lubmin – where the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines are built – to find out how businesses there are reacting to Europe’s quick pivot away from Russian energy imports.

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• Apr 11, 2022

  An omen reveals itself in the U.S. Treasury market

  

  The yield on the 10-year treasury note has been moving up in the past month and approaching pre-pandemic levels. What does this mean? Investors want a higher payoff for putting their money in bonds. Julia Coronado helps us get a read on why this is happening. It turns out that SpaceX and Tesla leader Elon Musk won’t be joining Twitter’s board of directors after all. We check out the fastest-growing sports craze: Pickleball.

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• Apr 11, 2022

  Is Europe inching closer to a ban on Russian oil?

  

  Though the prospect of Europe banning Russian oil seems far away, the executive office of the European Union is drafting proposals for an embargo to be part of the next wave of sanctions on Russia. Back in the U.S., a survey finds that even though workers are in an age of growing empowerment, it doesn’t mean they are any less stressed. The BBC reports on Mexico’s president easily winning a recall vote.

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• Apr 11, 2022

  Pakistan’s parliament voting on new PM after ousting Imran Khan

  

  A vote to elect a new leader is underway in Pakistan’s parliament. Imran Khan was ousted in a long-awaited no-confidence vote over the weekend. The BBC’s Farhat Javed is watching that vote from the capital, Islamabad. Back in the U.S.: Twitter shares are down 4.3% ahead of the opening bell on Wall Street. That’s after the social network’s boss says despite earlier plans, Elon Musk will not join the company’s board of directors. The BBC’s James Clayton has more from San Francisco. And finally, Mexico’s president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has easily won a referendum on whether he should step down or complete his six-year term. The BBC’s Will Grant travels to Chiapas state on the Guatemalan border to hear from his supporters and detractors.

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• Apr 8, 2022

  Bonus: Music Submissions From Our Listeners

  

  We invited you, valued listeners, to share your suggestions for what music we should include in our shows. You know, the bits of songs that we run as credit beds or grace notes. (They’re not random, they’re curated by our experienced team!) Anyway, our invitation for submissions sure did get a big response. And now, here, it’s time to reveal what you chose and hear the stories behind your selections. Take a listen to hear from three members of the Marketplace Morning Report audience.

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• Apr 8, 2022

  Walmart is offering new truck drivers six figures. What does that mean for the industry?

  

  Walmart has announced it’s raising the starting salaries for its long-haul truck drivers to as much as $110,000 per year. This comes amid ongoing supply chain problems, a strong labor market, and a shortage of truckers in the US. Walmart had already been an industry leader in paying its drivers, but what does this mean for other companies? A look at what the newest consumer debt numbers can tell us about spending and the economy. Colleges and universities are using funding from the American Rescue Plan to assist students in paying for basic needs like transportation and childcare. 

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